Yeah, I believe that. I was searching for 165gr pills for my M1 and M1A, thinking of sticking to lower velocities. Anyway, I did a lot of digging on the innerwebs and that's the general consensus of folks who use them. The idea I formed was that they would be a great varmint round... if the nation was to get itself all plagued with 120lb+ varmints.

Yeah, I think that is typical for that bullet. From what I've read the SST isn't known for staying in one piece. If they do create an exit it is rather large usually. If you want a bullet that is going to exit stick to 180 grain bullets or a premium like the Partition or TSX.

If you want a bullet that is going to exit stick to 180 grain bullets or a premium like the Partition or TSX.

Weight doesn't matter anywhere near as much as construction.
Even a 150 gr Partition is likely to exit, when the SST did not.
And, a 180 gr SST is just as likely to grenade and not exit, as the 165 gr version.

SSTs are designed to expand rapidly and quickly dump a lot of energy into the animal's tissue/organs, with no real intent to exit. Regardless of weight, the design is the same.

"Controlled expansion" bullets like the Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, etc. are designed to open slowly and penetrate as far as possible. Regardless of weight, the design is the same.

Construction, not weight.

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Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

Years ago I tried several brands of bullets looking for the "perfect" recipe for my 308. 150 grain bullets shot best, so I went hunting. It took me several years, several different brands of bullets and several deer to find a bullet that left an exit hole. I ended up with the tried and true Nosler Partition. When I started elk hunting and was working up a load for a new rifle in 300 WSM, I went straight for the Partitions, this time in 180 grain.

Weight doesn't matter anywhere near as much as construction.
Even a 150 gr Partition is likely to exit, when the SST did not.
And, a 180 gr SST is just as likely to grenade and not exit, as the 165 gr version.

Weight does matter maybe not so much with the SST because of its construction, but I wasn't really talking about them when I referenced 180 grains. A hunter doesn't need a premium bullet to kill deer, never has. However, a hunter does need an understanding of the effects that velocity has on a bullet. Then that hunter needs to pick an appropriate bullet to work well in at the ranges and expected impact velocities that they'll be hunting. Most people get hung up on how to get there efficiently and often overlook the terminal end.

Most cup and core bullets work well with an impact velocity of 2800 fps down to 1800 fps or less. You can expect adequate penetration and damage in that window, but not always an exit. When comparing 150-180 .308 caliber bullets you'll have a higher percentage chance of more retained weight and pass through with the heavier bullet. Simply because it impacts with less velocity, even a thin jacketed bullet like the SST has a better chance of leaving an exit wound. At 85 yards a 165 grain bullet is still close to the upper limits of impact velocity for a cup and core bullet.

I quit gutting deer long ago. I'm often far from the road and it is a lot easier to just get the edible parts, put them in a pack and carry it out on your back. You will easily leave 1/2 the animals weight behind unless you are carrying the head and cape for a mount. It may take 2 trips if hunting solo, but it is much easier than gutting and dragging a carcass for miles in the mountains. Getting the tenderloins is easy and the 1st part taken.

Sounds like you used an a bullet designed for the game hunting and it worked as designed. Their are several difffeent bullet designs that react differently. Some kill by rapidly expanding, others expand less and penetrate more. All work if used on game they were designed for and applied correctly.

I've experienced some bullet failures with both SST and Ballistic Tips. Most work as advertised albeit a little violent in certain presentations, but occasionally, there's the unexplainable blowup.
The specific bullets I'm using are Nosler 165 BT in 30/06 and Hornady 154 SST in hot loaded 7x57. Both have killed quite a few deer but maybe 1/5 shows some pretty violent expansion.

I have never shot SST's, but the thin skinned, boat-tailed, polymer pointed SST seems in appearance anyhow, to be Hornady's version of the Nosler Balistic Tip (BT).

The BT was all the rage here for a while. From a 7mm Mag, the 140 BT was a virtual hand grenade. I do not get that kind of results from my 130/.270's, but I cannot drive them in excess of 3000 fips from my 22" ADL.

Our deer average maybe 150 live for mature buck. Anything over 175 is a giant, and 200+ is all but unheard of. The slick, qick opening BT/SST clan do very well on our cretters.

At least one name writer has declared the BT the ideal whitetail round. I'd think the SST is similar.

I quit gutting deer long ago. I'm often far from the road and it is a lot easier to just get the edible parts, put them in a pack and carry it out on your back. You will easily leave 1/2 the animals weight behind unless you are carrying the head and cape for a mount. It may take 2 trips if hunting solo, but it is much easier than gutting and dragging a carcass for miles in the mountains. Getting the tenderloins is easy and the 1st part taken.

Sounds like you used an a bullet designed for the game hunting and it worked as designed. Their are several difffeent bullet designs that react differently. Some kill by rapidly expanding, others expand less and penetrate more. All work if used on game they were designed for and applied correctly.

I have never shot SST's, but the thin skinned, boat-tailed, polymer pointed SST seems in appearance anyhow, to be Hornady's version of the Nosler Balistic Tip (BT).

The BT was all the rage here for a while. From a 7mm Mag, the 140 BT was a virtual hand grenade. I do not get that kind of results from my 130/.270's, but I cannot drive them in excess of 3000 fips from my 22" ADL.

Our deer average maybe 150 live for mature buck. Anything over 175 is a giant, and 200+ is all but unheard of. The slick, qick opening BT/SST clan do very well on our cretters.

At least one name writer has declared the BT the ideal whitetail round. I'd think the SST is similar.

Well I cant complain on the bullet performance. Did its job and no waisted meat on the exit side.

I use the SST's alot in 270 Win 130gr. & 25-06 in 117gr. Like you said you get alot of DRT kills & the range really doesent matter.Ive took them from 30yds. to 400yds pretty much with the same result. I almost never get alot of meat damage,stay off the shoulders they aint that bad.I think the SST's are a great hunting bullet used them for years. good luck this season.

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